Ore classifier



Dec. 16, 1930.

T. A. DICKSON 1,785,302

ORE CLASSIFIER Filed Jan. 10. 1928 4 Sheets-$het 2 Man/M T lzomasAtD ickron,

Dec. 16, 1930.

T. A. DICKSON ORE CLASSIFIER 4' Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 10, 1929 oinds A flicbson, W W WM Dec. 16,- 1930. T. A, DICKSON v 8 ORE cLAssIFIEri Filed Jan. 10, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q I Q q 7 Thomas A .DiCkaoR Znveni'or:

Patented Dec. 16, 1936 UNITED sTATss PATENT- OFFICE 1 THOMAS A. DICKBON, 01' DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR 'IO COLORADO IRON WORKS tank or trough or assumingthelia ility of 992,629, issued May frequent and unexpected, sue

CORP-ANY, 01 DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION- OF ELAINE oar. cnassnrmn Application niea amasio, 1928. Serial in. 245,109.

My iresent invention relates toimprove-r ments in the type of ore classifiers disclosed 1 in Letters Patent of the United States No..

16, 1911, and No. 1,412,010, granted August 4, 1922.

One of the objects of theninventionis to provide aconstruction suitable for conditions where interruptions to o eration are as power failure forfexample, the classifier being so located or arran ed that it continues to re-- 1 ceive the flow, of pulp after stopping, this adaptation embodying means by which the lower end of the shaft and s'iral can be raised upon stopping," and, a ter starting gradually lowered to its working position. This obviates the necessity of diggin out the breakage on starting up."

Another object is to provide'in connection with such elevating means, a submer 1 ed shaft bearing of a type which may e kept thoroughly lubricated and all danger of grit working into the bearing eliminated, while at the same time passage of lubricant from .the bearing into the classifiertank will be prevented. I

A further object is toprovide a construction of interrupted conveyor blades 'or' fiights which will be strong and durable and which will provide different forms ofdrainag'e action at the point of emergence from the pool I and the conveyor portionoutside the "pool I whereby the action invention includes the novel featuresof eonofthe classifier *is "improved. I t With these and other objects in view. the

- struction, and arrangement and combination appended hereto. M e I p h h What I at present regard asthe preferred is Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in elevation ofparts hereinafter described, what I regard as my invention being defined by the claims embodiment of the invention is illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1, is aperspective view of'the classifier. Fig. 2 is a view in'elevation of the drive end.--

ig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 4.

and partly in section showing the elevating bearing andassociated parts. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section partly broken away and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail'views of the conveyor blades.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the complete classifier, the supportingi frame being shown broken away at one en 5 Referring by reference characters to these drawin s, the numeral 1 indicates the classifier tan or trough having the customary feed hopper 1a located in the side thereof intermediate the opposite elevated and overflow ends, which hopper communicates with the interior of the trough'through an opening in its wall below the liquid level, the said 7 trough having at its lower end an overflow weir and outlet 1b for the slime and lighter particles and atthe opposite end a sanddischarge lc, all of which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, particularly in View of the aforesaid patents.

'2 designates the spiral as a whole which is carried" by a tubular shaft?) by means-"of radial connecting arms'3a suitably secured to the shaft and spiral. The up er end of the shaft whichis above the liquid level in the trough or'tank, projects through an. opening in the end wall thereof and is journaled in a swivel bearing 4 having stub axles 4a journaled in bearings carried by the supporting brackets or standards 5. On one side of the bearing 4 the shaft carries fast thereon a large bevel gear wheel 6'with which meshes a small bevel gear .7, the shaft 7 a. of which may be driven from any suitable prime mover or source of power (not shown).

The shaft 3 carries on the other side'of the bearing a thrust ring 8.

The submerged end ofthe 'sh'aft is sup ported bya bea'ring'block 9 having grooved guides 10 preferably cast integraltherewith which cooperate with suitable vertical guideways 11 (Fig. 5) carried withinthe tank or trough at the lower end thereof. Said hearing block has projecting from its upper side ears 'or lugs 9a Fig. 3 to which an elevating screw rod 12 is secured by means ofapin or bolt 12a passing through alining openings in the lugs and an eyein lower end of the screw ro The rod passes through an opening in a bearing plate 13 Fig. 1 carried by the supporting frame and carries a hand wheel nut 13a by the operation of which the bearing block, and with it the shaft end, may be raised or lowered according to direction of rotation of the hand wheel. In order to provide a strong durable well lubricated hearing which will be proof against entrance of grit and free from leakage of grease or oil into the trough, I provide the construction which will now be described.

The bearing block 9 is provided with an annular groove or recess into which the end of the hollow shaft projects. The cylindrical portion 90 which projects within the shaft end carries a bronze bearing sleeve 14 which cooperates with a removable bearing sleeve 15 located within the end of the shaft, which sleeve has its inner end welded to a relatively heavy steel plate. or disc 16 which is removable with sleeve 15 and which bears against an internal annular shoulder formed bythe rabbeted lower end of the tubular shaft.

This plate or disc 16 carries a thrust member 17 having a rounded or convex bearing face which co-acts with the similar face of a block 18 seated in a recess in the face of the block 9. It will thus be seen that the load is carried by the inside of the shaft and the end thrust is taken through disc 16 and members 17 and 18 which are also within the shaft. The external surface of the shaft is protected against wear by a wearing sleeve 19 of suitable material.

To prevent the entrance .of any grit or abrasive substance between the sleeve 19 and annular adjacent wall of block 9 packing means are interposed comprising preferably a pair of spaced bearing lantern rings 20, 20a with a plurality (say five) of interposed grease packing rings'21, a pair of rings of water packing 22, and a packing gland 23 adjustably held in place by means of a plurality of screw bolts 24.

To effect lubrication a pipe 25 provided with a suitable source of grease or other lubricant such for example as grease cup 26 communicates through duct 25a with a grease reservoir 9d formed in the center of the bearing block 9 which grease reservoir communicates by passages 96 with the space between the thrust blocks 17 and 18 which forms additional grease storage space. The only exit for thegrease is between the wearing sleeves 14 and 15 into annular storage space 9;, whereby the said sleeves are kept thoroughly lubricated.

An exit passage 9h leads from the space 9; and connects with a pipe 27 provided with a valve 27a. In practice at suitable intervals (say daily), the valve 27 a is opened and fresh grease forced in by the cup 26 or analogous means, whereby the old grease is forced out and replaced by fresh, the grease issuing from pipe 27 being collected in a suitable receptacle and thrown to waste. After the above operation the valve 27a is closed and a small additional quantity of grease forced in past lantern ring 20 and into or around the grease packing rings 21.

In order to prevent the possibility of any of the grease from the grease packing rings working its way into the interior of the trough and mingling with thc contents thereof, I provide a pipe 28 connected'with a suitable source of clear water under pressure (not shown) which communicates by a port in member 9 with the space of lantern ring 2011. By keeping water in pipe 28 at all times under suitable pressure (say five pounds), no grease can find its way into the interior of the trough to commingle with the classifier liquor. The amount of water leakage past the water packing rings can be regulated by tightening the gland 23.

While my improved bearing for the submerged end of the shaft is designed particularly for use in connection with elevating means it is obvious that it could be used to advantage in non-elevating constructions.

Though the members 17 and 18 are described as thrust members these do not sustain the main thrust of the spiral which is prozided for at the unsubmerged end of the sha t.

The function of these thrust members in the submerged bearing is to keep the hearing definitely located on the shaft and prevent its slipping forward so that the end of the shaft would cut the bearing block or 7 housing 9.

The flights working in the lower end of the trough (space 0 Fig. 1) and designated 30 are plain and continuous, while the remaining flights are interrupted for the purpose disclosed in the aforesaid patents. I have found that the action of the classifier may be materially improved by modifyin the form of the interrupted portions in t e manner which will now be described.

In this form, I make the upper end of the plain continuous spirals terminate short of the shallow end of the pool, and for a portion of said shallow end as indicated by the space B between the intermediate parallel lines I construct the spirals 31 as shown in detail in Fig. 6.

In these spirals the outer edge of the blade or blades is made continuous and at intervals said blades are provided with interruptions or recesses 3111 on their inner edges occupying say approximately two-thirds of the width of the blade,

For convenience of manufacture the blades are made sectional, preferably of white cast iron, ada ted to be bolted or riveted to the arms, an to reinforce the recessed or interrupted portions, circumferential ribs 316 are cast integral on the back side extending a suitable distance on each side of the interruptions" and merging in the surfaceof the blades at the ends of the ribs. Additional radial reinforcing ribs 310 may be provided if desired.

The remaining interrupted flights working in the portion of the tank above the pool in the space indicated'at A are made in the form shownin detail in Fi 7 'In these, the blades or filghts 32 are made continuous on their inner edges while their outer peripheries are provided with inter ruptions or recesses 32a. These are likewise referably made of white cast iron and like blades 31 are rovided with circumferential reinforcing ri s 32b and radial reinforcing ribs 320 on their back sides.

By making the flights, operatin in the zone B, contlnuous on their outer e g'es and interrupted or recessed on their inner edges,

at which zone the sand is being vraked out of the pool and is therefore sloppy and its upper part extremely wet, the'interruptions 31a permit the upper layer ofmaterial to flow backward as the interruptions pass successively through the material, and afford renewed o portunity for the fine material to be freedjr m the sand before. the latter is conveyed' further along, where it would be relatively dry.

By constructing the blades 32 with continuous inner edges and recessed outer edges as shown, a strong and durable constructlon is secured while maintaining an efiioient action on the sand. The construction of both sets of blades 31 and 32 with intermediate recesses and blade attaching means at the ends (bolt or rivet holes) enables them to be economically manufactured out of wear resisting material and readily attachedto the carrying arms.-

I It will be understood that while I have shown in the drawings certain specific zones for the spirals, or relative proportions, these the unsnbmer' ed end, and a aring bloc closing the su mer ed end of the shaft and. bearing part fitting with-- having a c lindric in said en y 2. In apparatus of the class described, a trou having feed and delivery means, a tubu ar shaft therein having one end only a disc member submerged,.in eans for suplporting and driving the unsubmerged en forming 'a partition in said shaft spaced.

shaft and having-a cylindric part projecting into the shaft and provided with a wear sleeve co-acting with said wear sleeve of the shaft, said bearing block having an internal lubricant chamber communicating with the space within-the shaft and means for supplying lubricant to said chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the juxtaposed faces of the partition ,disc and aring member are provided. with thrust blocks havingco-acting convex faces.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a trough having feed and delivery means, a

tubular shaft therein having one end only submerged,means for supporting and driving the unsubmerged en a disc member forming a partition in said shaft spaced from its submerged end, a wear sleeve within the shaft between its end and said partition, a. bearing block having an annular shaft endreceiving recess forming a cylindric part within the shaft carrying a wear sleeve to:

co-act with the wear sleeve of the shaft and providin also an annular cylindric wall enclosing t e outer peripher of the shaft end and spaced therefrom, ac said cylindric wall an the s her, and means for supplying lubricant thereto. v

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the packing means includes a lantern ring, and means are provided for supplying water under pressure to said lantern ring.

6. Ap aratus according to claim 4 in which the bearing block is provided with an annular chamber adjacent the end of the shaft and means are provided for conductin spent lubricant therefrom coincident with the-supply of fresh lubricant.

7. In apparatus for classifying ores comprising a trough having a discharge at one end-for slimesand a discharge at the opposite end for sands and coarse material, and

an inclined agitating and separating conveyor havin one end partially submerged and provide with a continuous spiral, and at the other end with an interrupted spiral,

an intermediate spiral conveyor portion lo-' cated at the place of emergence from the pool comprisinga blade having a continuous outer periphera edge and an interrupted or recessed inner e ge.

8. In apparatus for classifying ores comn rings between iiaft, saidbear--- ing block having an interior lubricant cham-' prising a trough having a discharge at one end for slimes and a discharge at the opposite end for sands and coarse material, and an inclined agitating and separating conveyor having one end partially submerged and provided with a continuous spiral, a second spiral portion adjacent said continuous spiral having a blade provided with a continuous outer edge and recessed or interrupted inner edge, and a third spiral portion adjacent said second spiral portion having a bladeprovided with a continuous inner e bearingand recessed outer edge.

9. In apparatus of the class described, an inclined trough having feed and delivery means, a shaft therein having a hollow end submerged in the liquid of the trough and the other end unsubmerged, agitator and conveyor means carried by said shaft, a swivel for the unsubmerged end of the shaft, means adjacent said swivel bearing for driving the shaft, and an internal bearing for said submerged hollow end of the shaft provided with lubricating means and means for preventing lubricant from reaching the liquid in the trough, and means for raising and lowering said bearing. 10. In apparatus of. inclined trough havin feed and delivery means, a shaft therein aving a hollow end submerged in the liquid of the trough and the other end unsubmerged, agitator and conveyor means carried by said shaft, a swivel bearing for the. unsubmerged end of the shaft, means adg'tacent said swivel bearing for driving the sha and an internal bearin for said submerged hollow end of the sha including thrust resisting means and means for raising and lowering the submerged end of the shaft.

In testimony whereof, I aflix miy s1 ature.

THOMAS A. D C SON.

the' class described, an 

